Lancaster to retire after 31 seasons at UMO

MOUNT OLIVE — Longtime University of Mount Olive baseball coach Carl Lancaster announced Monday that the 2018 season will be his last as the Trojans head coach.

With a career record of 1,131-482-2, Lancaster will retire with the ninth-highest career winning percentage in the NCAA Division II baseball ranks and stands fifth all-time in victories. He has led the Trojans to 15 conference championships in his 31 seasons and his 2008 team won the Div. II national title.

The Wayne County native previously coached at his alma mater, Eastern Wayne High, before taking the Mount Olive job in 1987.

The Trojans, 33-12-1 so far this season, finished second in Conference Carolinas and will face King in the first round of the conference tournament Thursday in Burlington.